Herzstark



C. HERZSTARK Sept. 4, 1951 LOCKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1950 C.HERZSTARK LOCKING DEVICE Sgpt. 4, 1951 Filed April '27, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Fig.5

Patented Sept. 4, 1951 LOCKING DEVICE Curt Herzstark, Maui-en, Liechtenstein, assignor to Contina Bureauxund Rechenmaschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft, Mauren, Liechtenstein Application April 27, 1950, Serial No. 158,428

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to locking devices, and more particularly to a locking device for selectively preventing rotation of a first member and longitudinal movement of a second memher.

It is well known in the art to provide detents of various types for preventing the rotation of a shaft or for selectively preventing the rotation of one or another of two shafts. The present invention differs from previously known devices in that a detent is slidably positioned on a stationary member and is movable by rotation of a first member into engagement with a second member to prevent longitudinal movement of the latter and movable by longitudinal movement of the second member to engage the first member and prevent rotation thereof. One proposed use of the present invention is particularly described hereinafter wherein the device is embodied in a pocket-sized calculating machine having a centrally mounted rotatable drive element and transmission members arranged in a circle around said drive element adapted to actuate a counting mechanism, the counting mechanism being adapted to be disengaged from the actuating means by axial displacement of the counting mechanism carrier.

The invention consists of a selectively and automatically operable locking device actuated either by the drive element or by the carrier of the counting mechanism to lock the counting mechanism or the drive element respectively against movement with respect to the stationary body of the machine. The locking device comprises a locking element mounted within the machine body engageable alternately with the drive element or the carrier of the counting mechanism in such manner that either the drive element locks the counting mechanism against lifting when the counting mechanism is disconnected or locks the counting mechanism against axial displacement when the drive element has been rotated out of a predetermined position.

The objects and advantages of the invention will be evident upon consideration of the following description, reference being made therein to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of a calculating machine having the locking device of the present invention embodied therein.

Figure 2, a longitudinal section of the locking device,

Figure 3, a cross sectional view on the line III- III of Figure 2.

Figure 4, a longitudinal section of the locking device, in which the various elements of the device are shown in positions different from those of Figure 2.

Figure 5, a cross sectional view on the line V-V of Figure 4, and,

Figure 6, a partial sectional view on an enlarged scale of a second embodiment of the invention.

The driving member of the miniature calculating machine of the present invention consists of an echelon drum l which is fixedly mounted upon a drive shaft 2, to one end of which is secured an operating crank 3. A decade counter drum 4, having an elongated hub 5, is rotatably mounted on the shaft 2 and is connected by a. pin 6 with the echelon drum i so as to rotate with the latter. The shaft 2 is mounted, with the hub 5 of the decade counter drum 4, in the sleeve 1 which forms a part of the body member or machine body 8. A counter mechanism sleeve: 9 is rotatably mountedupon the sleeve I, and is capable of relative axial movement with respect thereto. The sleeve 9 is connected with a counter mechanism body ID by means of a nut II which confines a portion of the body H) be tween a shoulder on the sleeve 9 and the nut. The counter mechanism body consists of a radial flange and an annular ring which forms a skirt or the like overlying the external surface of the cylindrical body 8. Within the counter mechanism body It, a plurality of numbering rollers l2 are arranged in a circle about the axis of the body. The rollers 12 are mounted upon shafts l4, upon which are also mounted the transmission gears l3 for actuating the rollers [2. The transmission gears l3 are arranged to normally engage with crown gears I5 which are mounted on shafts Hi, the shafts l6 being actuated, through means not illustrated, by the echelon drum I.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the body sleeve l is provided with a radial bore 18 within which a locking element or ball 2! is positioned. The ball 2| and bore l8 are of such relative size that the ball protrudes from the bore on both sides of the sleeve I when positioned centrally within the bore and can be moved only along the axis of the bore. The hub 5 is provided with a conical bore I! which coincides with the bore It when the hub 5 is in a predetermined position of rotation. Opposite the outer end of the hole l8 and coincident therewith the counter mechanism sleeve 9 is provided with an annular groove i9 having an inclined lower wall 20. The ball 2| is of such size as to be received within either of the chambers formed by the bore l8 and conical bore H, or the bore l8 and annular groove 19.

The bores l1 and I8 are so positioned in the relative members as to be directly opposite each other when thecountersmechanism in "operative position and When-the crank3 is inits normal position. In this position the crank 3 may be rotated or the counter mechanism I may be moved axially with respect to the body 8. Upward movement of the counter mechanism ['0 is manually efiected against the=actlon ofsspringzazi, to move the transmission gears fa out'o'i engagement with the crown gears'li. "Duringthi-s axial displacement of the counting mechanism the annular groove I9 is movedirom the position shown in Figure 1 into the position shown in Figure 2, the result being that the locking ball M is moved by the action sof the inclined wall into the-b'ore i l, where'a'fterithersoutersendzof" the bore'lia is blocked by the inner walker the counter mechanism sleeve 19. .In:this tposition the .ball 2| is confined between the conical surfacesof the bore l l 1 and the inner xwallzof .thersleeve 9,;"and, having engagement in the bore llsandin theibore I8,'lo'cks the hub 5"withrrespectto the .sleeve 1 so thatthe counteridrum "d, echelon :drum 1|, shaft 2 and crank 3 are held against rotation.

'When the countersmechanism tflfisreturned to" its normal position by athei spring 221 the 'hub E maybe-rotated byi means of theITcrank B. Rotanon of the hub :5 icauses imovementof the .ball 21 into the: annular-groove I QQbY 'ViE-MIG" of the inclined conical'iwalls of the-bore H. The inner end iof the bore it will he sibloclred by the outer wall ofthe' hub 5. "Inithisposition,'asshown in Figure hthe ball 2 tengages in theiborei8 and groove l9, thus :preventingsaxialmovement of the counter mechanism I 9 while allowing -.rota tion "thereof.

The locking device :.according to 'l' the second embodiment'of thepresent;invention consists of an axially slidable lockingpin 2 3 mounted within a bore .in' the machine rbodyJS. This lo'cking pin 23 1s urged outwardly intoi engagement with the covering 25 1by'a spring- 24. :Theiinner circumferentialwallof -the'covering 25 -of the body of the counter. mechanism 'is provided with an-Jannular groove 2 fighaving anzin'clined lower wall 2 l. The-"headit' o'f-"the locking -pin 2 3--'=engages the wall 2! in the cover--25. ii locking recess 28 is provided opposite the-locking pin'fi in the decade counter drum l, Orin-another member which is coupled with the driveelemena l 7 If the counting mechanism is "raised, when the operating crank 3 is in its normal 'po'sitiomthereduced inner end of the locking pin '23-will=be moved by means of the inclined "wall 2-! into engagement with'the locking recess" 28""to lock the drive'element against rotation with respect to-thebody' 8. The movement of the cover 25 is limited-to such an extent that'it can neverbe'moved above and beyond the head 23 of the locking pin' '23.

When the operating "crank 3 is rotated. away from its normal positionsdthatthe'rec'ess 23 does not coincidewith thevpin 23Jthecounting mechanism cannot-be lifted-for the-reason that the locking pin Tit-is engaged'in'ftheannular groove 26 in thecircumference"ofzthe counting mechanism.

'It is clear from the'fore'going descriptionth'at I have provided a novel locking device which is selectively operativettojprevent' rotation or a first member and longitudinalmovement of a second member, provision being made to allow rotation of said longitudinally movable member whether said member is locked against longitudinal movement or not. The locking device has a particular use in the calculating machine described hereinbefore, but it is clear that such device can be used wherever .the features it providesare desired.

Having described only one "preferred embodiment of my invention, it being clear that various -modifications and departures from the particular embodiment can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, I do .nctnesirertordennemy inv nti n y t pr ding description-butrather by the appended claims.

1. A locking device for the operating crank of a miniature calculating machine having a centrally arranged rotatable drive element and circularly arranged transmission members which are adapted to be disconnected from the drive elementibyiaxial.displacement, comprising abody member,:anda iockingielement movably mounted in;said" bo.dy member, said locking elementcbeing selectively influenced .by .said drive element and said transmission members, said locking element :being influenced upon disconnection of said transmissiorranembers; to lock said, drive element against; rotation. with; respect to said body membersan'd being influenced by. said drive element to prevent disconnection ofssaid transmissionmembers when said drive element haswbeen moved away-troma; predetermined position.

12.xA locking device-according to claimrl, ineluding iaisleeve, said transmissionmembers being mounted onsaid sleeve, a bearing sleeve onsaid bodyzmemben. said transmission member sleeve being-mounted -.on said bearing sleeve and being axiallywmovablevwith, respect thereto, saidadrive element being.- rotatably mounted in said bearing sleeve, said :bearing sleeve having .a' radial: bore through: the; wall thereof,:.said drive element having-:aradial bore:coinciding withsaid'bore in said beam' ngssleeve: in .one position of rotation of. said drive. element-said transmission member sleeve having an annular groove in the inner wallthereof vcoinciding with said bore in said bearing sleeve in one position of axial movement ofrsaid transmission memb er; sleeve, said :locking element being .posi-tionedL-in said bore in said bearing sleeve and being movable selectively into .said bore-1m saidcdriveelement-and into said groove in'rsaid' transmission member sleeve.

;.3..Al.1OCking device according-to claim E in whichisaidi-bore in said drive element and said groovenint said transmission member sleeve are providedwvith inclined-walls, said-inclined walls serizing-zas .cam. surfaces for moving said-locking element.

J-4. In :a-=:calculating= machine having a body membergaa:.drive element rotatably mounted in said? body member; and" a .countingmechanism tel-escopically mounted 'onsaidbody member for axial movement =with-respect-to said body member and said "shaft a; locking device, comprising a locking element slidablymounted on said body merhbcr-andarranged toselectively engage said drive element and-saidcounting mechanism while maintainin engagement with said body member, said 'lockingdevice being; influenced by rotation of said =drive-element to engage said counting mechanism and prevent axia1 movement thereof and-beinginfiuenced by axial movement ofislaid mounting mechanism, to engage said driyegelement and prevent rotationthereof.

5. In a calculating machine, a locking device according to claim 4, in which said body member is provided with a bore, said drive element is provided with a recess coinciding with said bore when said drive element is in a predetermined osition with respect to said body member, and said counting mechanism is provided with a groove coinciding with said bore when said counting mechanism is in a predetermined position with respect to said body member, said looking element being positioned within said bore, said locking element being moved into said groove when said drive element is rotated away from its said predetermined position to prevent axial movement of said counting mechanism, said locking element being moved by said counting mechanism into said recess when said drive element is in its predetermined position by axial movement of said counting mechanism away from its predetermined position to prevent rotation of said drive element.

6. In a calculating machine, a locking device according to claim 5, in which said locking ele- 6 ment is a ball loosely positioned within said bore so as to be engaged by said drive element and said counting mechanism.

7. In a calculating machine, a locking device according to claim 5, in which said locking element is an elongated pin, including a spring associated with said pin and urging same into engagement with said counting mechanism.

CURT HERZSTARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,400,679 Jensen Dec. 20, 1921 1,414,716 Trosien May 2, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 535,478 Great Britain Apr. 10, 1941 

